Senators: Don't demote Petraeus

 
By Kristina Wong - 01-20-16 19:29 PM EST

Sens. John McCain (R-Ariz.) and Jack Reed (D-R.I.) on Wednesday urged Defense Secretary Ash Carter not to demote David Petraeus from his status as a retired four-star general.

The Daily Beast reported earlier this week Carter was considering demoting Petraeus over a misdemeanor conviction more than four years ago for sharing classified intelligence with his biographer Paula Broadwell, a former Army intelligence officer with whom he had an extramarital affair. 

“It is rare that a retirement grade determination is conducted for an officer previously retired from the U.S. armed forces,” McCain and Reed, the Senate Armed Services Committee chairman and ranking member, wrote in a joint letter to Carter.

“It is rarer still that such a review would be conducted nearly four and a half years after the date the officer retired," they added. 

McCain and Reed — both military veterans — said administrative determinations that include retirement grade determinations cannot be re-opened, set aside or a different result order except for the cases of fraud, error or newly discovered evidence presented within a reasonable timeframe. 

They pointed out that a demotion in his retired rank for a misdemeanor conviction would be discretionary. 

"We are concerned such a retirement grade review, taking place nearly a year after the misdemeanor conviction in which General Petraeus admitted his guilt, and apologized for his actions, is manifestly unreasonable and unfair," they said. 

“The unusual circumstances surrounding this review raise serious questions about the motivations behind it,” McCain added in a statement.

Petraeus testified in front of the Senate Armed Services Committee last September for the first time after news of his extramarital affair broke and he resigned as CIA director.  

The retired four-star general apologized to the committee before he began his testimony on U.S. policy in the Middle East, which was well-received by Republicans and Democrats on the committee. 

"We take this opportunity to remind you of General Petraeus’ long career of exceptionally distinguished, honorable and dedicated service to our Nation and to the soldiers he so brilliantly led to success in combat," McCain and Reed wrote. 

--This report was updated at 6:12 a.m.